Anna Russo, Global Data Science Director, Gucci

Describe your career to date

Since my first line of BASIC code on a Commodore64 at age seven, I have nurtured a deep connection to numbers and computing. Inspired by my family of scientists and engineers, this early exploration led to a lasting passion for mathematics and computer science.

Considering maths a universal language, I naturally focused on Theoretical and Applied Mathematics at the University Federico II of Naples. To apply theoretical knowledge to real challenges, I pursued a PhD in Computational Biology at the University of Milan, exploring cancer genomics with support from the Italian Association for Cancer Research. This phase introduced me to the captivating realm of machine learning (ML), laying the foundation for my journey into data science.

In 2016, I launched my data science career as a Faculty AI fellow, swiftly transitioning to QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey. With diverse industry experience in pharma, oil and gas, and automotive, my rewarding tenure at Channel 4 in 2018 resulted in multiple awards for our data science team. After Channel 4, I joined Skyscanner, focusing on Recommender Systems and Transfer Learning.

In 2021, Gucci offered me the role of their inaugural Global Head of Data Science. Proudly shaping Gucci’s data science vision, I assembled a dynamic team across Italy, UK, and China. My 2022 promotion to Global Corporate Data Science Director underscored Gucci’s commitment to a data and AI-driven future. Actively contributing to the data community, my team and I engaged in international conferences, local meetups, and shared MLOps best practices, enhancing Gucci’s profile in the data and AI field.

In 2023, I was honoured on the DataI00 list, and the Gucci Data Science team was shortlisted for the Best Data and Analytics team award.